Cover for load-holding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Covering apparatus having a flexible cover and a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on a loadholding structure at pivot points substantially equally spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered. The pivot plane is arranged nearest to the opening to be covered adjacent an end of that opening, and extends linearly away from that end and the opening. The supports are in the form of U-shaped hoops each having a pair of parallel legs. The legs of each hoop are of different lengths from the legs of the other hoops, and are directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered. A conventional drive train is connected to the hoop having the longest legs for pivoting same between a cover open position and a cover closed position. Each hoop leg has a guide channel and guide wheel mounted in opposed relationship to one another. Each of the guide channels is arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in a cover open position. These guide channels and wheels assist in maintaining alignment of the hoops as the cover is opened. A stop member is mounted adjacent the end of the load-holding structure at which the pivot plane is arranged nearest the opening to be covered for limiting the movement of the supports when they are in a cover closed position.

United States Patent 1 1 McFarland COVER FOR LOAD-HOLDING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: William W. McFarland, Rt. 1,

Cimarron, Kans. 67835 [22] Filed: Feb. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 334,208

[52] US. Cl 296/100, 296/105, 296/112 [51] Int. Cl 360p 7/02 [58] Field of Search 296/115, 109, 108, 100,

1,415,377 5/1922 McGregor 296/98 1,798,736 3/1931 Helms 296/100 3,190,345 6/1965 Rothwell 160/132 3,393,835 7/1968 Kantor 296/100 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Assistant ExaminerG. L. Auton Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT Covering apparatus having a flexible cover and a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on a load-holding structure at pivot points substantially equally spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered. The pivot plane is arranged nearest to the opening to be covered adjacent an end of that opening, and extends linearly away from that end and the opening. The supports are in the form of U-shaped hoops each having a pair of parallel legs. The legs of each hoop are of different lengths from the legs of the other hoops, and are directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered. A conventional drive train is connected to the hoop having the longest legs for pivoting same between a cover open position and a cover closed position. Each hoop leg has a guide channel and guide wheel mounted in opposed relationship to one another. Each of the guide channels is arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in a cover open position. These guide channels and wheels assist in maintaining alignment of the hoops as the cover is opened. A stop member is mounted adjacent the end of the load-holding structure at which the pivot plane is arranged nearest the opening to be covered for limiting the movement of the supports when they are in a cover closed position.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 COVER FOR LOAD-HOLDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a cover, and particularly to a cover for load-holding apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known to cover the open top of a load-holding device with a flexible material supported by pivotally mounted support members. Example of such covers may be found in U.S. Pats. Nos. 1,798,736, 3,498,666, and 3,515,428. These known covers move the flexible material between an opening-covered position and an opening-uncovered position by pivoting the support or supports. When more than one support is used, as in the case with the cover set out in US. Pat. No. l,798,736, the pivot points of the supports are generally arranged adjacent one another and on a curved line so that the end supports will drop down while closing without first raising to clear the load. The intent of the prior art devices was to form an elevated covering supported by thechassis separate and away from the load carrying box. The cover was opened by pushing the cover clear of the box so that the box could be tipped or dumped to unload it. Only a relatively small box could be covered with such an arrangement, as the supports would have to be quite heavy and strong to extend over a large box and remain elevated all the time the cover was in a closed or covered position. Further, the supports of the prior art devices are generally supported themselves only at their pivotal mountings, which places a great deal of stress on these pivotal mountings and requires heavy bearings tov withstand this stress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for load-holding structures which is simple of construction and efficient of operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a load-holding structure cover having self-aligning supports to prevent wedging or binding.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a load-holding structure cover in which either a heaped-up" load or the sides of the load-holding structure support most of the weight of the cover and its supports with only stresses applied to the pivots, cover and supports when the cover is in an openingcovering position.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing covering apparatus having a flexible cover and a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted integrally on the load-holding structure at pivot points spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered.

Advantageously, the pivot plane is arranged nearest to the opening to be covered at a point adjacent an end of the opening, and extends linearly away from that end and the opening. The supports may be of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered. A

drive train, and the like, may be connected to the longest support for pivoting same between an openingcovered position and an opening-uncovered position. Preferably, at least two supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each support is a substantially U-shaped hoop pivotally mounted on opposed sides of a loadholding structure. Each hoop may have a pair of substantially parallel legs, and guide channels and guide wheels mounted on the legs in opposed relationship to one another. Each guide channel is arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in an opening-covering position.

A stop member may be mounted on the load-holding structure adjacent the end thereof at which the pivot plane is nearest the opening to be covered. This stop member is arranged for limiting the movement of the supports when they are in an opening-uncovered position.

The supports may be divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest the opening to be covered adjacent an end of the opening and extending linearly away from that end. The cover is divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and sized for meeting one another when the supports are in an opening-covering position, and the supports are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a cover according to the present invention arranged covering a top opening of a load-holding structure in the form of a rectangular box mounted on a vehicle chassis.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic, side elevational view showing the cover of FIG. 1 in an openinguncovered position.

' FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic, side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the cover according to the present invention in a partially open, or openingcovering, position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top plan view, partly in section, showing in detail a drive mechanism for opening and closing the cover of FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, detail view showing the interrelationship of guide channels and guide wheels according to the present invention when the cover supports, orhoops, are in a cover closed, or opening-uncovered, position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic, side elevational view showing a modified embodiment of a load-holding structure cover according to the present invention.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS on a, for example, wheeled vehicle 12. The covering apparatus includes a cover 14 constructed from a sheet of flexible material, and a plurality of cover supports in the form of U-shaped hoops 16, 18, 20, and 22. These hoops are attached to cover 14, and are pivotally mounted on box at pivot points spaced along a pivot plane defined in the illustrated embodiment by a longitudinally extending member 24 arranged at an angle with respect to the open top of box 10. The pivot plane defined by member 24 is arranged nearest to theopening to be covered at a point adjacent one end of that opening, and extends linearly away from that end and the opening. Hoops 16, 18, 20, and 22 are of different lengths, with 16 the shortest and 22 the longest, directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the top opening of box 10. The arrangement requires all of the hoops to raise upwardly, away from the load, when moving between the cover open and cover closed positions. The four hoops 16, 18, 20, and 22, it being understood that other numbers of hoops may be used, are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane, or along member 24, and are also substantially equally spaced where they rest along the top of box 10 when in an opening covered position. The open cover is primarily supported by a load (not shown) in box 10, and/or by the walls of box 10. A catch bar in the form of a horizontal plate 26 is mounted on box 10 adjacent the end thereof to which member 24 is nearest the open top of box 10, and is arranged for limiting the movement of hoops, 16, 18, 20, and 22 when these hoops are in an openinguncovered position. When cover 14 is arranged outside of box 10, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, tie-downs 28 may be employed in a conventional manner to assist the weight of cover 14 and hoops l6, I8, 20, and 22 is holding cover 14 down when it is in an open or opening-covering position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings, a drive train 30 is provided for pivoting hoop 22, and thus hoops 16, 18, and and cover 14, between an open, or opening-covering position and a closed, or openinguncovered position. This drive train has a pulley 32 connected to, and in fact mounting, hoop 22. This pulley 32 is rotated as by a crank 34 and an endless rope 36 transmitting power between crank 34, which may be rotated by hand, and pulley 32. Crank 34 is a portion of a shaft 38 mounted as by conventional bearings 40 to an end wall 41 of box 10. As can be seen from FIG. 4 of the drawings, pulley 32 is mounted as by a shaft 42 in a bearing 44 to a side wall 46 of the same box 10. An identical drive train 30, except for crank 34, is provided on the wall of box 10 arranged opposite wall 46 to assist in opening and closing the cover.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an advantageous feature of the present invention in which each hoop l6, 18, 20, and 22 is partly formed by a pair of parallel legs 48, each of which is provided with a guide channel 50 and a guide wheel 52 mounted thereon in opposed relationship to one another. Each guide channel 50 is arranged for receiving the guide wheel 52 of an adjacent leg 48 when hoops 16, 18, 20, and 22 are in a closed, or opening-uncovered position, and nesting the hoops in one another. Specifically, as hoop 22 raises, or moves from the cover open to the cover closed position, its guide channel 50 contacts the guide wheel of hoop 20 which in turn engages wheel 52 of hoop 18 with its guide channel 50. This interaction continues depending on the number of hoops employed. Flexible cover 14 falls between the hoops as they nest together. To close the cover-that is, to cover the opening of box l0hoop 22 is pivoted clockwise as seen in FIGS. 1 to 3. As hoop 22 moves, cover 14 unfolds to pull the next hoop, which in turn moves the next, until the opening is covered.

FIG. 7 of the drawings shows a modified embodiment of the present invention in which a pair of covers similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings cooperate to cover the open top of a rectangular box 56 having a much longer length than box 10. In this cover ac cording to the present invention, the hoops are divided into sets 58 and 60, and the flexible cover divided into cover portions 62 and 64. Each set 58, has a separate pivot plane arranged nearest the opening to be covered adjacent a respective end of the opening and extending linearly away from that end and from the opening toward the end associated with the other set 60, 58. The cover portions 62, 64 will meet at substantially the mid-point of the longitudinal extent of box 56 when cover portions 62, 64 are in an opening-covering position. Each set 58, 60 is constructed and actuated in an identical manner to the cover of FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, and, therefore, will not be discussed in greater detail herein.

FIG. 7 of the drawings also shows a modified catch bar 66 according to the present invention which is formed by a tube, rod, and the like, bent into a U-shape and pivotally mounted to a one end of box 56. This catch bar functions in the same manner as horizontal plate- 26 to provide a limit stop for limiting the cover open, or opening-uncovered position of a cover assembly according to the present invention. The placement of pivots in a system utilizing catch bar 66 will of necessity difier to allow for proper nesting of the supports against the vertical bar in the opening-uncovered position and at the same time provide for equalized spacing of the supports along the top of the box in the openingcovered position. The advantage of a catch bar 66 over horizontal plate 26 is that catch bar 66 may be positioned either vertically upwardly, as shown in full lines in FIG. 7, or pivoted to a position down out of the way, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 7, to comply with regulations governing the overall length of semi-trailers, and the like. A suitable, known latch mechanism (not shown) may be provided to retain catch bar 66 in a desired position.

Alternatively to crank 34, power to rotate shaft 38 could come from a suitable electric or hydraulic motor (not shown). Further, crank 34 could be constructed so as to fold when not in use to meet truck width regulations. Another manner of pivoting hoop 22 would employ fluid motors (not shown), such as conventional pistons and cylinders, attached to each leg 48 of hoop 22, and supply a suitable fluid, such as a hydraulic fluid, to these fluid motors through a conventional flow divider arrangement to ensure that the legs 48 would be aligned as they move from the cover open to the cover closed position. A chain and sprocket might be used in lieu of the pulley and endless rope arrangement for transmitting power. Suitable fasteners or catches (not shown) could be employed to latch the cover in either its open or closed position so that the trailer or truck could be transported or moved with the cover either open or closed.

The material used to construct cover 14 is a function of the kind of material or goods to be protected. Whatever the cover material, it would have to be positively attached to the hoops with suitable ties or loops (not shown) so that the cover would be positioned exactly the same by the hoops each time the cover is closed. For protection from rain or snow, the cover material should be arranged over the top of the hoops, and away from the load, with optional tie-downs disposed between the hoops to effect complete protection. The tie downs would also be advantageous when the hoop spacing is great. For protection from wind, the cover material could tie under the hoops and fit just inside the box 10, 56, in contact with the load. Factors to be considered in material selection would dictate whether, for example, a weatherproof material or a heat insulating material is employed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Apparatus for covering a load-holding structure, comprising, in combination:

a. a cover;

b. a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on load-holding structure at pivot points spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered, the pivot plane being arranged nearest to the opening at a point adjacent an end of the opening and extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered, the supports being of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered, with the shortest of the supports being arranged nearest the opening to be covered for causing all of the supports to raise upwardly, away from the load, when moving between a cover open position and a cover closed position, wherein each support is a substantially U-shaped hoop pivotally mounted on opposed sides of the load holding structure, and wherein each hoop has a pair of substantially parallel legs, at least some of the legs having a guide and guide wheel associated therewith and mounted thereon in opposed relationship to one another, each guide channel arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in an opening uncovered position and for a portion of the time during the closing and covering operation, said guide channels and said guide wheels of adjacent legs engage each other to aid in the closing and covering of said load holding structure.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, further including means connected to the longest support for pivoting same between an opening-uncovered position and an opening-covered position.

, 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein at least two of the supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the cover is constructed from a sheet of flexible material.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1, in combination with a load-holding structure in the form of a rectangular box having an open top.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein a stop member is mounted on the rectangular box adjacent the ends thereof to which the pivot plane is nearest the opening to be covered, and is arranged for limiting the movement of the supports when same are in an opening-uncovered position.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the supports are divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest the opening to be covered at a point adjacent a respective end of the opening and arranged extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered toward the end associated with the other set, the cover being divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and meeting one another when the supports are in an openingcovering position, and the supports of each set are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered.

8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two of the supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.

9. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover is constructed from a sheet of flexible material.

10. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the supports are divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest to the opening to be covered at a point adjacent a respective end of the opening and arranged extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered toward the end associated with the other set, the cover being divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and meeting one another when the supports are in an opening-covering position, and the supports of each set are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered. 

1. Apparatus for covering a load-holding structure, comprising, in combination: a. a cover; b. a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on load-holding structure at pivot points spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered, the pivot plane being arranged nearest to the opening at a point adjacent an end of the opening and extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered, the supports being of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered, with the shortest of the supports being arranged nearest the opening to be covered for causing all of the supports to raise upwardly, away from the load, when moving between a cover open position and a cover closed position, wherein each support is a substantially U-shaped hoop pivotally mounted on opposed sides of the load - holding structure, and wherein each hoop has a pair of substantially parallel legs, at least some of the legs having a guide and guide wheel associated therewith and mounted thereon in opposed relationship to one another, each guide channel arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in an opening - uncovered position and for a portion of the time during the closing and covering operation, said guide channels and said guide wheels of adjacent legs engage each other to aid in the closing and covering of said load holding structure.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, further including means connected to the longest support for pivoting same between an opening-uncovered position and an opening-covered position.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein at least two of the supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the cover is constructed from a sheet of flexible material.
 5. A structure as defined in claim 1, in combination with a load-holding structure in the form of a rectangular box having an open top.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein a stop member is mounted on the rectangular box adjacent the ends thereof to which the pivot plane is nearest the opening to be covered, and is arranged for limiting the movement of the supports when same are in an opening-uncovered position.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the supports are divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest the opening to be covered at a point adjacent a respective end of the opening and arranged extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered toward the end associated with the other set, the cover being divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and meeting one another when the supports are in an opening-covering position, and the supports of each set are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered.
 8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two of the supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.
 9. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover is constructed from a sheet of flexible material.
 10. A structure as defined in cLaim 1, wherein the supports are divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest to the opening to be covered at a point adjacent a respective end of the opening and arranged extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered toward the end associated with the other set, the cover being divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and meeting one another when the supports are in an opening-covering position, and the supports of each set are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered. 